UNITED STATES ARMY DESERTER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3144, 24 July 1917, Page 6

UNITED STATES ARMY DESERTER

RESPONDS TO THE CALL OF DUTY

A BREEZY CONFESSION

A patriotic United States Army deserter, the first on record, has turned up at the training camp at Plattsburg. He is Private John A. iiiehop. of the Thirtieth Uegular Infantry, which a year ago was stationed at" thie post. Although only an enlisted mau, and presumably an automaton, John had convictions. In Ajiril, IMG, according to the story ho told the Commandant, lie became dissatisfied with tho way President Wilson was running the United States.

"I joined tho Army expecting to see active service," he said. "Standing guard in a garrison 3000 miles from the big scrap didn't appeal to me, so 1 beat it. I went to Canada and joined a Canadian regiment. After that what happened to me was a plenty. They sent us into tho tliick of tho mill. I got all the fighting I wanted, and then some. Cut that wasn't the reason I quit. Tho same day that the United States declared war on Germany wo heard about it in the trendies. Believe me, those lime-j uicer.s were tickled pink. They began to talk about celebrating Victoria Day in Berlin, and taking apart tho Watch on the Rhine to seo what made it tick. That was all right for them. As for me, I began to think that now they would be wanting to recruit the old Thirtieth up to war strength, and I hod a hunch they'd forget old diiferences at a time like this. Besides, I thought I'd rather fight besido my ohb biinkiea than to have the whole British Army behind me. I put it up to tho Meftenaut,' and he put it up to tho captain, and the captain put it up to the 'eulunell.' The' geneials were too busy figuring out how to hang on until tho Yankees got into the scrap, so the 'culunell' didn't bother them, buit just ffavo me my discharge himself. After that I caught the first ship back, and here I am." '

Bishop's case (states the New York "Evening Post") will receive careful consideration at the hands of the Military Board. ' The maximum penalty for desertion in peace time is two and onehalf years' imprisonment. Tf his story is triie, it is not unlikely sentence will be suspended, or at ttie most a nominal penalty will bs inflicted. It is more than probable that his "bunkies" in tho Thirtiefch will shortly: welcome him back.